Great news for Irish language learners & enthusiasts! We’re starting a new type of monthly blog posts focused on the latest news regarding Irish Gaelic & other things of interest. We know it’s hard to keep track of these things, you don’t have the time to search for it yourself or you don’t really know where to look to get the latest scoop on what’s happening with the Irish language.
Look no more, starting today, Bitesize can be your one stop for Irish language related news.
Munster Irish dialect [Canúint na Mumhan]
If you have 5 minutes, you should watch the following video by YouTuber Ciara Ní hÉ who’s talking with a close friend (Seaghan) about special parts of the Munster dialect. They are both in America teaching Irish as Fulbright FLTAs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwl88uO90fk
NI Secretary Karen Bradley to meet Irish language groups
As part of political talks, campaigners are looking for the creation of an Irish Language Act. This would see the creation of “creates a significant number and range of guaranteed right”, but it’s a contentious political issue. [Read more]
Concern In County Clare Over How Irish Language Is Taught In Schools
The Chief Inspector’s Report from the Department of Education has revealed the standard of learning of Irish in primary schools has deteriorated notably in the past four years.[Read more] & listen to the discussion [Audio/Podcast]
Irish-language content on radio is negligible, says report
A survey on the use of Irish on radio stations has found that it barely reaches the ‘cúpla focal’. The Irish language has only a marginal role on the vast majority of Irish radio stations, despite a legal obligation to include it. Apart from RTÉ, most stations use Irish in a “trivial” or “culturally stereotypical” way. [Read more]
‘How is English a modern language when it doesn’t even have its own word for a croissant?!’
Twitter #nílsécgl campaign highlights negative attitudes encountered by Irish speakers
Prompted by the writer and teacher Ciara Ní É to use the hashtag #nílsécgl (Níl sé ceart go leor, or It is not all right) in a tweet she posted on Sunday, users wrote messages describing negative attitudes they have encountered while speaking the language. [Read more]
Kids’ thoughts on the Irish language
Watch a handful of kids speak about how they feel about the Irish language. It mostly seems to be apathy, and being “forced” to learn it. But this is just a cultural phenomenon, picked up from their peers. Do they feel the same way about Geography?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZdqIESe6r8
Dreoilín Ó Coigligh’s morning thoughts on the Irish language
Do you fancy watching a man smoke his pipe and discuss the cultural importance of learning the Irish language? Dreoilín shares his thoughts. [15 mins]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqryDhxBb0w
Did you enjoy our monthly Irish Language News for February 2018? Please share your opinion! Use the comments section below and tell us what you think!
11 thoughts on “Irish Language News, February 2018”
Dia daoibh, cén chaoi a bhfuil sibh?
I’ve read The Irish Harp too, it’s a good book. But it breaks my heart to hear those young children in the video above. I believe the language is beginning to revive and have to hold hope. But it’s the responsibility of every Irish adult (and Irish diaspora) to embrace the language – labhair Gaeilge, gach lá, gach áit agus le gach daoine!!!
Le meas Neasa
Hi Neasa,
Thank you for reading our blog post and commenting.
Hopefully the use of Irish language will improve with time.
Le meas,
Ana.
Neasa, it is a very real “apathetic” attitude a lot of people have in Ireland. The kids get that from their parents (even some of their teachers, dare I say).
Léigh mé an leabhar seo:
“Motherfoclóir: Dispatches from a Not So Dead Language” ó Darach O’Séaghdha.
Is brea liom é!
This book gives a humorous personal account of growing up in Ireland with the language,
a brilliant read.
Hi Michael,
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
I am sure that your comment will inspire people to read that book.
Le meas,
Ana.
Another resource I had not come across, sounds like a fun read!
There’s an extraordinary short book by Tomás Mac Síomóin called The Broken Harp. One of the ideas he expands on is a biological explanation for the Irish ‘cringe’ in relation to their national language. The centuries of violent suppression by English rule, he argues, caused not just a sort of culturally inherited ‘Stockholm Syndrome’ (identifying with your persecutor’s point of view) but epigenetic damage which passes on the same tendency physically. (But don’t try that one when arguing with an Irish hater of his/her own language!)
Hi Derek,
Thank you for your comment and book recommendation.
Le meas,
Ana.
I hadn’t heard of that theory before!
It is after all only a theory, and difficult to find absolute proof for, but Mac Síomóin makes a very convincing case for it. His recommended cure is much better national understanding of Ireland’s colonial history, and a sort of national psychotherapy!
Worth a read.
I’ll have a look!